Just as diabetes affects nearly 30 million Americans, diabetes is also affecting our pets in increasing numbers. Obesity is a contributing factor. Over 50% of our pets are overweight, which puts them at an increased risk of developing diabetes. In fact, obese cats are four times more likely to develop diabetes than cats at a normal weight.

Those who wish to bring a pet into their families are encouraged to consider their ability to provide for a pet's care, grooming, food, and medical bills. Pet owners should plan for the costs of unexpected illness or injury.

The Center for Veterinary Medicine believes that the concept of “antimicrobial stewardship” encompasses several important principles of judicious use that are critical to slowing the rate at which bacteria develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs. In simple terms, CVM believes medically important antimicrobial drugs should only be used when necessary to treat, control or prevent disease. In addition, when such use is necessary, these antimicrobials should be used in an optimal manner under the oversight of a licensed veterinarian.

Now that summer has drawn to an end, it’s important to remember all those upcoming seasonal toxins that we need to be aware of! With Halloween and Thanksgiving right around the corner, now's the time to educate yourself on the pet poisons that are around your house commonly seen by Pet Poison Helpline (PPH) during this time of the year.

Silver Star Brands is recalling six products for humans (including four Native Remedies® and two Healthful Naturals™) and two PetAlive® products for pets for a total of eight products. The products have been tested and found to contain microbial contamination.

FDA approval of Mirataz means that veterinarians have an approved mirtazapine product with known safety, efficacy, and quality to provide to their patients rather than relying on the only previously available products that are compounded from bulk drug substances that are unapproved animal drugs.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting pet owners and veterinarians to be aware of the potential for neurologic adverse events in dogs and cats when treated with drugs that are in the isoxazoline class. Since these products have obtained their respective FDA approvals, data received by the agency as part of its routine post-marketing activities indicates that some animals receiving Bravecto, Nexgard or Simparica have experienced adverse events such as muscle tremors, ataxia, and seizures.

The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers and pet owners not to use drug products, including homeopathic drug products, made by King Bio Inc., Asheville, N.C., and labeled as Dr. King’s, as these products may pose a safety risk to people (especially infants, children, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems), as well as pets due to high levels of microbial contamination identified at the manufacturing site.

Radagast Pet Food, Inc. of Portland, OR is expanding its earlier recall to include an additional quantity of Rad Cat Raw Diets across all varieties with Best By dates of 10/19/18 through 12/3/19 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

With Pfizer's announcement that it will be suspending the sale and delivery of injectable opioids to veterinary customers in order to prioritize human health care needs, the supply situation for veterinary medicine has grown worse. The Pfizer shortage is said to have been caused by multiple manufacturing problems.

ADM Animal Nutrition, a division of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM), is recalling 200-pound tubs of Mintrate® 36-15 Breed Right Tub cattle feed, product number 54549AAA6H, because the product may contain elevated levels of non-protein nitrogen, which could be harmful to cattle.